Nick Smith oversteps the mark yet again

Posted by Ruth Dyson on July 28, 2014

Nick Smith has yet again completely overstepped the mark as a minister – this time with a threat to muzzle Fish and Game if they don’t keep in line with Government’s views, says Labour’s Conservation spokesperson Ruth Dyson.

“Nick Smith doesn’t understand boundaries. Time and time again throughout his career he has gone too far. He is a shining example of the arrogance and conflicts of interest of Team Key’s Wall of Shame.

“You would have thought he would have learned from the Bronwyn Pullar ACC debacle where he intervened in his own department to lobby for a friend. Instead as soon as he returned as a minister he was gagging his Conservation Department’s concerns over the Ruataniwha Dam.

“He has now threatened to change the mandate of Fish and Game because of its advocacy for clean rivers. This is straight out intimidation and he should offer his resignation. Unlike Gerry Brownlee he should be serious about it,” says Ruth Dyson.